Beginners Guide To Timing Belt

The timing belt is a part of the internal combustion engine and helps to connect the camshaft and the crankshaft. The timing belt makes sure that the engine's valves close and open exactly at the right time during the time of intake and exhaust strokes. This will help to prevent a collision between the piston and the valves of the engine. Some of the engine components such as the water pump and oil pump are also run by the timing belt.

The components attached to the car timing belt are the camshaft pulleys and the crankshaft pulley. These components are usually located at the side of the engine and are covered by a timing belt cover.

Timing belts are usually made of a strong rubber material which includes cords that are tightly reinforced by nylon.

The timing belt is a means to transfer power from the crankshaft to the camshaft that is responsible for the opening and the closing of valves. As the crankshaft pulley rotates, the belt wrapped around that pulley also rotates in turn rotating the camshaft pulley. As long as the engine is running, this direct connection between the crankshaft and the camshaft via a timing belt helps in the smooth functioning of the valve train assembly. The length of the timing belt increases with time due to the heating and cooling cycles and the repeated tension and the stress generated by the engine. The belt is ribbed on one side to offer a good grip on the pulleys and ensure lossless power transmission.

Here we have a list of problems and causes which can help you in identifying the reason for the failure of the timing belt. Visually look at the timing belt drives for some of these failures which cause problems and help in preventing your drives from grinding to a halt. This can also prevent unscheduled downtime.

1. Misalignment- One main cause for the failure of the timing belt drive can be misalignment. Misalignment can be due to excessive or uneven tooth wear, belt tracking, and failure of the tensile. When you check and align your shafts and timing pulleys, it can help you to increase the life of the timing belt and save a lot of time down the lane.

   
   

2. Excessive load- If the teeth of the timing belt keep shearing, then the excessive load can likely be one of the reasons. Failure of the tensile and excessive tooth wear can also arise due to excessive load or shock loads. To get rid of this problem, you will have to replace the belt.

   
   

3. Under-tensioned Belt- Tooth skipping, which is also known as ‘ratcheting’, which lies exactly to the bottom of your belt might probably be under-tensioned. Under-tensioning can also cause excessive or uneven tooth wear and excessive drive noise. In order to set the correct tension on the timing belts, use a tension gauge.

   
   

4. Low tensile strength - If the timing belt drive vibrates excessively or if the belt stretches apparently, then your vehicle might have low tensile strength. Due to the low tensile strength of the belt, some engines use a timing chain. This helps to strengthen the power delivery to the camshafts.

   
   

5. Damaged or worn pulleys - The belt life will be substantially reduced if the timing pulleys are damaged or worn out. Worn-out teeth can cause the belt to damage or wear out quickly. The belts can get easily cut due to nicks or gouges. If you find any signs of wear and tear, inspect and replace the pulleys as quickly as possible.

   
   

6. Debris in the timing pulley or drive - Most often, the debris is overlooked, but it can cause multiple problems to your timing belt and the pulley. Dirt on the belt teeth can cause the belt to wear out and the oil present can attack the belt materials. Clear off the rust and dirt with the help of a stiff brush. Oil and grease have to be wiped clean. Debris can cause any of the above-mentioned reasons for the failure of the timing belt. 

Loss of teeth can likely cause the timing belt to fail and wear off soon or if there are any reasons, it should be taken into consideration. If you are looking for any other possible reasons and correct actions, then you’ll have to check the troubleshooting guide of the timing belt and pulleys.

Here are a few symptoms which indicate that the timing belt might be defective and might need a mechanic to replace them as well as other internal engine components have to be checked for any damages.

1. Ticking noise coming from the engine - A ticking noise will be created inside the engine if the timing belt starts to wear out. It can also be accompanied by a low-pressure warning sign. As the timing belt is so important for the operation of the vehicle, if you notice this sign, then you must get in touch with a mechanic as soon as possible.

2. Engine won't turn over - A serious sign of a timing belt failure is an engine that won’t start. The timing belt is responsible for the opening and closing of the valves and in case of a timing belt failure or breakage the engine won’t turn over. 

3. Engine misfires - The engine’s fire rate is also impacted by the worn-out timing belt. The timing belt is fixed to the pulleys which help to drive the crank and camshaft. But the belt might slip sometimes on the camshaft drive and one of the cylinders may open or close earlier than usual. This will cause misfiring of the engine and if not replaced quickly, it might damage the engine.

4. Oil leaking from in front of the motor - Another part associated with the timing belt is a timing belt cover and the gasket. In case of a gasket failure, the timing belt cover will leak oil, which is very easily visible in the engine compartment.  

Are you thinking of repairing your Timing Belt on your own? Then there is one thing which you must have, that is the right tools needed for repairing your Timing Belt. It is essential to make sure that you are outfitted with the right tools to get the work done properly. Have a look at some tools which you might need to get started with your repair work:

• Screwdrivers

• Wrenches

• Socket set

• Three-jaw gear puller

• Antifreeze

• Jack

• Jack stands

• Torque wrench

• Drain pan

For vehicle owners' choices, the brands matter a lot. You might pay for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability, and trust. Some leading car parts brands are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related to the quality. So have a look at some top brands for Timing Belt.

• Gates Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Dayco Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Beck/Arnley Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Dayco Import Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Elgin Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Sealed Power Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Auto 7 Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Acdelco Professional Timing Belt Kit & Parts

For vehicle owners' choices, the brands matter a lot. You might pay for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability, and trust. Some leading car parts brands are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related to the quality. So have a look at some top brands for Timing Belt.

• Gates Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Dayco Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Beck/Arnley Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Dayco Import Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Elgin Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Sealed Power Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Auto 7 Timing Belt Kit & Parts

• Acdelco Professional Timing Belt Kit & Parts

It is very important to arm yourself with information before you shop for any auto parts. We are here to help you dive deep into the names of the Timing Belt-related parts.

• Tensioner

• Timing Idler Or Pulley

• Timing Idler Bearing

• Timing Tensioner Bearing

• Timing Belt Tensioner Lever

There are a lot of factors that should be considered when you are thinking of replacing the Timing Belt. First, you have to decide if you require some related parts of the Timing Belt or chain or a whole Timing Belt. The next step is to decide what type of make as well as the type of Timing Belt you are dealing with and then from where will you get a brand new one. Just keep in mind that a brand-new Timing Belt which would come from a warehouse would cost much more than the one you will get in a junkyard. After that, the next point which should be considered is where you are going to get it replaced and how quickly it needs to be done. The approximate cost to change a timing belt lies between $300 to $500 in total (more for larger cars, trucks, and SUVs). The cost of the timing belt will be less than $50 but most time is spent on the labor. Labour costs will be around $250 to $450.

Keen to know about the procedure of changing the Timing Belt? Well, we have simplified the entire procedure for you:

Step 1

The timing belt should move smoothly off the sprockets now that the stress on it has been relieved. Timing belts that have been in use for a long time may become stuck in the pulley grooves and need to be gently pried out with a screwdriver.

Step 2

Before installing the replacement belt, inspect the timing belt pulleys and water pump to see if they need to be replaced.

Step 3

Torque the timing belt to the right requirements, paying careful attention to the "torquing" specs in the engine manual, especially the crankshaft pulley mounting bolt, which normally has a very high torque spec.

Step 4

If the timing belt tensioner is hydraulic, removal may be necessary to compress the piston back into the cylinder once the ratchet is released. Place in a vice and compress until the holes line up to allow a holding pin to be inserted.

Step 5

When the timing belt is installed with the pin pulled to allow the tensioner to exert tension on the timing belt, the tensioner can be re-installed.